Pre- Convention Workshop
Descriptions & Pictures

MTW1 - Wheel Thrown Pottery (Start to Finish)
by Craig Roberts

In this workshop, students complete up to 100 pieces, from marble-sized ball of clay to finished, glazed "masterpiece." We use mini electric wheels to "throw" pots and multiple kilns to get them all fired and finished at the convention. We also cover trimming, basic glazing, and kiln firing, as well as "handles and lids.” Students get hands-on practice and returning students are challenged with advanced techniques. A second skilled potter helps Craig give students individual attention. To ensure knowledge retention, a 10 page study guide is included ... plus a new DVD with Craig making pots on the wheel, including lots of close-ups.  Wheels and tools provided for use in class only, but may be purchased in the salesroom later. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner       1” and/or ½” scale    $499

MT1 - 1900 Paris Shop Window
by Carl Bronsdon

In this class students will create the front display window of a Paris shop from 1900, perfect for a wonderful patisserie, hat shop or perhaps an elegant holiday shop.    Fanciful art nouveau fretwork accents the front panels and arched center window.  The interior display shelf has a curved cutout and is topped with more gilt fretwork on top of the upper ‘marbleized’ shelf. There is some interior space behind the shelves for a couple of cafe tables or a display of shop wares.  Students will paint some wood pieces ahead of time.  Chandelier not included.

Minimum skill level: Intermediate     1” scale         $252

MT2 - A Delightful Ladies Sewing Secretary
by Lori Ann Potts and Georgia Matuschak

Join us to restyle, refinish, paint and decoupage beautiful prints to the doors of this limited Bespac secretary.  Antiquing will transform it into an exquisite piece of furniture.  Luxurious “Seafoam” silk will be used to line the cabinet, including tufted panels inside the doors. All accessories and materials are supplied to fill the interior, including spools of thread, bolts of fabric, vintage button cards, reels of lace and much more.  Once your piece is brimming over on the inside, you will have plenty of extra materials to create a setting around your secretary.  This piece would be a great addition to a dollhouse or as a stand-alone centerpiece for a sewing vignette.

Minimum skill level: Beginner             1” scale             $142

TW1 - Enchanted Jewels
by Lisa Engler

Make a jewelry counter that is filled to the brim with jewelry displays that will be the highlight of any upscale shoppe.  You will make and fill a plexiglas counter that will have prestained wood trim.  The counter and displays are embellished with doilies, gloves, etc. The jewelry is created from laser cut "findings" and enhanced with rhinestones and beads to make unique and wonderfully scaled jewels that any woman would love.

Minimum skill level:  Intermediate         1” scale        $212

TW2 - Stone Briar Manor
by Suzanne Larson-Tamburo

This charming house has ‘leaded glass’ windows, distinctive decorative trims and unique slanted walls.  The interior is an open floor plan with central staircase, dining room, bedroom, kitchen and a great room with timbered ceiling.  Students will assemble the house and finish as shown using paper clay to create the slanted walls.  Base and landscaping are included.

Minimum skill level:  Beginner           ¼” scale          $167

M1 - Quarter-Inch HMS Seahorse
by Sue Herber

This little boat is inspired by the English Brambley Hedge Series of whimsical mice stories.  There are 2 rooms with timbered ceilings in the hull, a large main cabin with seahorse, sand dollar, starfish and floral mural trim, a square-shaped cupola, a shell door knocker, and a seahorse masthead.  Learn assembly in small scale using wood and resin, and painting techniques to do the faux driftwood and decorative wall treatments.

Minimum skill level: Beginner           ¼” scale        $159

M2 - Dove Cottage in 1/144th Scale
by Susan Karatjas

Construct a 1/144th scale Dove Cottage – a cantilevered, half timbered dwelling found in “Merry Olde England, Now and Then.”  This special edition laser cut cottage, made just for this class, includes the following extras:  laser scribed floors, laser cut brick paper, 2 chimneys, 4 fireplaces, and a thatched roof.  This house could have been built any time from 1500 to modern day.  Good eyesight is helpful and magnification or a small light is optional.  Bring your basic toolkit.  The chopper by NWSL is helpful, but optional.

Minimum skill level: Intermediate      1/144th scale       $90

M3 - Young Elizabeth I
by Ellen Scofield

Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, is presented for you to re-create as a young woman.  She is complete with silk under things and a dress of silk brocades trimmed in gold satin picot with delicate lace cuffs.  She is adorned with gold rings on her fingers and a lovely necklace.  This class is best suited for the intermediate student, but enthusiastic beginners are welcome.

Minimum skill level: Intermediate            1” scale      $ 137

M4 - Quarter-Inch Hunny House
by Karen Marsh

Loaded with charm, the ¼” Hunny House is a cast resin bee skep with honeycomb walls, floors, fireplace and chimney.  Bees on the stained glass windows, bee stepping stones, a bee skep birdhouse, and a wood slice base complete the overall effect of this fully landscaped project.  No matter who lives here – bears, bees or people – you’ll have fun building and assembling this structure. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner        ¼” scale     $127

M5 - Entertainment Center with Big Screen TV
by Stephanie Engeseth

Build this Entertainment Center from cherry or walnut and paint, stain or clear finish it.  Construct and add 4 speakers, sliding plexi doors, simulated lights on a light bar, big screen TV, DVD player, VCR and other components.  An assortment of pictures for the TV will be provided.  Load the shelves with DVD’s, CD’s and VHS’s, which you will make.  Unit is 7¼” tall x 8” wide x 1” deep.

Minimum skill level: Beginner           1” scale           $122

M6 - England Now & Then with Miniature Books
by Melinda Jones

This is a workshop on making miniature books, following the course of English history.  Students will make 5 different style books, each with its own specific techniques.  You will be able to build upon these techniques for your own miniature books.  Included are:  King James Bible (open book technique, simple cover-making, curving pages), William Morris Photo Album (square glued spine, cutout pages, photos inserted), Titanic (woodblock technique, attached end papers), Medieval Art Folio (folio cover, cord closure, color enhancing), and Merlin’s Spells (leather cover, braided cord closure, sewn binding.)

Minimum skill level: Beginner             1” scale          $147

T1 - Old Cookware
by Jo Dewane

Distress cooking pans, baking pans, utensils and bowls.  These can be only slightly aged or made to look ‘well used.’ Pictured are ‘well-used’ ones.  Other accessories to make and distress are dish towels, hot pads, paper towel rolls and 2 cookbooks, one open and one closed.  Included in this fun workshop are 30 items to finish and use in your kitchens --- in a house or roombox, a rustic cabin, a bachelor’s pad or anywhere you want to give a ‘touch of character.’  You will learn techniques to take home and use in other projects.

T2 - Astrologer’s Room in Quarter Scale
by Sally Manwell and Karen Benson

Students will assemble the laser cut wood box with a Plexiglas window top that provides plenty of light. They will learn techniques for wallpapering, adding ‘stonework’ and finishing the inside of the fireplace on a smaller box that slides into the first, making the thick walls of the castle room.  Five furniture kits will also be assembled, including techniques for staining, gluing and decorating.  Students will also learn to make books and rolled documents.  Accessories to finish the room include charts, a rug, items for the shelves and parts for the project on the table.

Minimum skill level: Beginner          ¼” scale           $142

T3 - Berries and Cream
by Karen Gibbs

Mrs. P. Rabbit is looking for a cozy and safe home to raise her children.  The perfect spot, of course, is in the middle of a berry patch.  Food shopping is close and she's surrounded with nature ---- what more could she want?  Her home is modest but comfortable, with the first floor containing a warm kitchen and sitting room.  Her vine-made stairwell leads to her relaxing bedroom.  The third floor attic is a wonderful storage place for all of her treasures.

T4 - Henry VIII
by Ellen Scofield

The infamous Henry VIII is majestically dressed in silk and mink.  Metallic trim, gold beads and feathers complete this imposing figure.  Students will learn to form his robust figure, techniques for dressing in silk, trims fur and feathers.  This class is best suited for the intermediate student, but enthusiastic beginners are welcome.

Minimum skill level: Intermediate          1” scale        $137

T5 - Silver Soldering
by Jim Pounder

Learn the similarities of soft soldering and silver soldering.  Students will have multiple practice sessions comparing the behaviors of 2 types of solder and graduate to assembling the class project.  Lamp projects will require 4 silver solder joints and soft soldering electrical wires.  Students will have a finished working desk lamp at the end of the class.

Minimum skill level: Beginner             1” scale           $82

T6 - The Magic of the Drill Press
by Tom Walden

The emphasis in this workshop is on techniques, but students will cut/shape wood for a project.  Students will learn to cut perfect circles, mounding, dados, rabbets, mortises and tenons.  Students will also learn to make a pin routing jig and use pin routing pattern jigs, including shaping a ¼” cabriole leg.  This one-day class is also offered on Wednesday.

W1 - The Magic of the Drill Press
by Tom Walden

The emphasis in this workshop is on techniques, but students will cut/shape wood for a project.  Students will learn to cut perfect circles, mounding, dados, rabbets, mortises and tenons.  Students will also learn to make a pin routing jig and use pin routing pattern jigs, including shaping a ¼” cabriole leg.  This one-day class is also offered on Tuesday.

W2 - Cobblestone Cottage
by Karen Cary

A short stroll from Castle Kari and past the meadows of Somerset sets a quaint little thatched 14th century cobblestone cottage just waiting for you.  Her walls are sturdy and her hearth is warm.  She has a stone fireplace and chimney, front windows, bay window, door, “faux” shingles, thatched roof, stone walls, porch steps and wishing well.  She comes with a wood floor and fence.  You will learn to paint the stone walls, chimney and fireplace to create a realistic aged look.  Interior painting and/or wallpapering will need to be done at home.  Landscaping materials aren’t included, but are explained in the directions. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner            ¼” scale           $99

W3 - Camille in a Toilette from the 1890’s
by JoAnne Roberts

Camille’s skirt is composed of 5 gores with an attractive foot trimming encircling the bottom. The trim consists of a narrow row of pleated taffeta, headed by an appliqué of ivory lace that’s trimmed with a blue floral garniture.  A wide girdle-like belt encompasses the waistline.  The bodice is ruched with a lace overlay.  The neck is finished with a stand-up collar trimmed with a tiny lace edging.  The sleeves are also ruched and done in a bouffant puff topped with frill caps.  From the elbow down, the sleeve is covered with a patterned lace.  Hat and parasol provided.  Table and fern not included.

Minimum skill level: Beginner             1” scale          $162

W4 - Table Saw Techniques – English Blanket Chest
by Pete and Pam Boorum

Join us in making this walnut chest with St. George’s Cross pattern in contrasting veneers on the lid.  Learn to use a miniature table saw to rip, crosscut, miter and make finger joints.  Finally, we will take you through the process of applying the hinges. 

Minimum skill level: Beginner            1” scale           $112

W5 - Welsh Dog Dresser Vignette
by Barbara Thornton-Hill

Build a small box and ‘kitchen dresser’ (hutch for a dog or cat).  Students will learn to texture walls, age furniture and accessories, make a ‘stone’ floor from egg cartons, use faux painting techniques, build a skirted table, make a hanging light fixture and make accessories including a draped table, hanging lamp, plant, flower and ¼” books.  A small dog and a frame will be provided to complete the scene.  Completion of all but accessories is probable.  Teapot on shelf not included.

Minimum skill level: Beginner            ¼” scale            $62

W6 - Afternoon Tea
by Carolyn Eiche

Join  in the tradition of an English Afternoon Tea.  Students will learn techniques to create a luscious lemon poppy seed cake, delectable fruit tarts, heart-shaped tea cakes, crumpets and cups of tea.  We will also make the milk for the creamer in the tea service and each student will receive lemon pieces to make wedges.  Students will also receive menu cards and a short history on the British tradition of afternoon tea.  There might even be a surprise included along with lots of fun, laughs and sharing.  Join Carolyn in her “Afternoon Tea.”

Minimum skill level: Beginner             1” scale            $77

W7 - The Pig & Truffle English Pub
by Lew Kummerow

Re-create this charming English Pub in ¼” scale.  The piece includes an authentic pub sign, finished “stained glass” window, and complete pub interior with furniture, bottles and posters.  You will assemble the building, learn how to make miniature bottles, simulate glass windows and use modern adhesives.  The upstairs room will be left for you to decorate and furnish in the future.  All of these pieces have been made exclusively for this workshop.

W8 - High Tea Time
by Luci Hanson

After shopping all day, what could be more relaxing than a spot of tea and a pastry?  You will enjoy finishing this front opening shop with a clear Plexiglas top.  The building is pre-assembled so time will be spent putting the finishing touches on it and decorating the inside with a bakery case, 2 shelf units, covered tables and chairs, a fireplace, grandfather clock, sales counter with register, wall art and a book rack.  A choice of colors and flooring will be available.

Minimum skill level: Beginner           ¼” scale            $95

W9 - Martha Washington’s Desk
by Shannon Moore

After George Washington died, Martha Washington burned all of their personal correspondence except 2 letters that were discovered after Martha’s death.  They were caught behind the drawer in her desk.  This miniature desk is a replica of that desk.  Our copy will be made of cherry, with a tamboured top, a flip out writing surface, 2 drawers on the top and 2 drawers below the writing surface.

Minimum skill level: Intermediate          1” scale          $92

W10 - French Pastries
by Carl Bronsdon

Students will use Fimo polymer clay to create a variety of French style pastries perfect for a patisserie, café or an elegant Tea.  Students will learn some basic Fimo techniques and use them to create an apple tart with crumb topping, a puff pastry choux gateau, a croquembouche tower with French macaroon decorated base and candy roses, a profiterole pyramid and colorful assorted individual pastries.